New Guidebook to Support Youth Inclusion in Higher Education
WUSC, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, Light for the World, and Solid Minds, has released a guidebook to support universities in understanding an intersectional approach to equity and inclusion, especially for youth with disabilities, refugees, and displaced persons.
The guidebook, entitled Journey to Success: A Guidebook on Inclusion for Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Partners, provides practical gender-responsive guidance on addressing barriers to ensure that youth from marginalized backgrounds are included in institutions. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program staff, at both Foundation and partner levels, can use this resource to guide efforts to make their programs more inclusive.
The report highlights best practices towards ensuring that young people from various walks of life can have an inclusive educational experience. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program will award 100,000 scholarships by 2023. Of these, 70% are for women, including 10,000 scholarships for youth with disabilities, and 25,000 scholarships for refugee and displaced youth.
According to the WHO, approximately 15% of the world’s population lives with a disability, and these individuals are more likely to experience adverse socioeconomic outcomes, including fewer educational opportunities and higher instances of unemployment compared to persons without disabilities. According to the UNHCR, only 7% of refugees have access to higher education, resulting in fewer opportunities to gain skills, knowledge, or join the workforce.
As universities proactively make their institutions more inclusive, students from marginalized backgrounds will have greater access to educational and economic opportunities and more opportunities to build their skills, and foster their leadership abilities so they can become catalysts of change. In turn, universities experience benefits including a widened pool of applicants, enriched and diversified classrooms, and greater empathy and understanding within the university community.
Learn about all of this and more in the guidebook, which includes QR codes and additional links to resources on topics like assistive technology and budgeting for inclusion, as well as motivational videos, blogs, and stories.
Access the full guidebook here.
Learn more about our refugee inclusion work in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.
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